The funeral Mass was held Monday, March 3, at St. Joseph Catholic
Church in Grafton and was preceded by a visitation.

A reception followed at Galiotoís Restaurant in Cedaburg.

The burial was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Grafton.

Barbara had gone into the hospital unexpectedly on Monday, Feb. 19,
with what was determined to be a heart attack.

She had single by-pass surgery four days later. It did not prove to be
enough though as she died six days later.

During the time spent at Columbia St. Maryís Hospital in Mequon, she
was joined by her son, daughter, granddaughters, cousins and many dear
friends.

She was conscious, clear and very present much of the time family and
friends were near.

So there was quality time, meaningful communication and love shared.

Barbara was born Jan. 7, 1929 in Milwaukee, the only daughter of Henry
and Alice Arnfield, her two amazing and devoted parents.

They moved to West Bend not long after that where Barbara was raised.

After high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison
where she graduated in 1951 with a bachelorís degree in sociology.

It was also where she met her future husband Richard Parsons of Racine.
They married Dec. 27, 1951 in West Bend.

The first five years of marriage involved a number of moves as Richard
was completing his military career and transitioning into the then
burgeoning aerospace industry.

Their son, Mark was born in 1952, in Huntsville, Ala., followed by
daughter, Janet in 1954 in El Paso, Texas and second daughter, Anne in San
Diego in 1959.

Barbara spent from 1959 to 2004 in San Diego where she raised her
family, formed numerous deep and lasting friendships and pursued her many
interests.

She loved her family and friends. She loved to sew, knit, cook and was
very skilled at each.

She hosted a gourmet cooking club at her home on a regular basis.

She also loved to read and travel and took many trips all over the
country and the world with family and friends.

Barbara was known and loved for her marvelous sense of humor and ready
smile.

In 2001, her husband of nearly 50 years passed away. He had been
preceded in death by their youngest daughter, Anne in 1983.

On her own now, a dream to return to Wisconsin began to grow. It came
to fruition two and a half years later when in the face of much
questioning and contrary advice, she moved back to Grafton, to start anew.

It was a move she never regretted and absolutely loved that she had
done.

She developed many new friendships, cultivated old ones and created a
wonderful new home and life for herself.

She also paved the way for a family migration of sorts back to
"Godís country" as her granddaughter, Kathleen, Kathleenís
husband, Chris, and great-granddaughter, Rebecka moved back to Grafton a
few blocks away this past September. New great-granddaughter Elizabeth was
born in November.

Her other granddaughter, Margaret, is looking to attend graduate school
in Wisconsin, and even daughter, Janet is considering a move, too.

Barbara has been an inspiration and guiding light for us all and will
be deeply missed.

She is survived by her son, Mark of Los Angeles; daughter, Janet of San
Diego; grandchildren, Kathleen Dart and Margaret and Andrew Sykes;
great-granddaughters, Rebecka and Elizabeth Dart; cousins, Staff Maurer,
Tom Maurer, Gary May, Carol Pitterle and Betty Scharfen-berger, and many
dear friends in Wisconsin, California and across the country.

A special thanks to Linda Lemanczyck, her neighbor and dear friend in
Grafton.

Mueller Funeral Home of Grafton assisted the family with arrangements.